The process, explained from the official sources
The visa pages tell you what each visa requires. These 10 guides cover what sits around them: the order the steps happen in, the medical and character requirements almost everyone meets, police certificates, how to tell whether somebody advising you is actually licensed, and what happens after you land.
Last checked against the official sources each guide cites on 2026-10-27
What are the steps to apply for a New Zealand visa?
INZ's own five steps, what each involves, RealMe, fees and the levies — with the figures INZ publishes and the ones it doesn't.
Read the guide →What are the medical and character requirements for a New Zealand visa?
The stay lengths that trigger a medical or x-ray, the NZ$81,000 health cost threshold, the statutory character bars, and how waivers actually work.
Read the guide →Do I need a police certificate for a New Zealand visa?
The 24-month trigger, the 17-and-over threshold, which countries you need certificates from, and the six-month recency rule.
Read the guide →How do I check whether an immigration adviser is licensed?
Search the free IAA register, understand full, provisional and limited licences, know who is exempt, and how to report an unlicensed adviser.
Read the guide →What are the photo requirements for a New Zealand visa?
File size, shape, background, glasses, head coverings, the 6-month rule and the editing INZ rejects — from INZ's own photo page.
Read the guide →How do I transfer my New Zealand visa to a new passport?
When you need to, eVisa versus label, the form, what to upload, and what to send if you want a label.
Read the guide →Which partner visa is there for New Zealand?
The partnership visas INZ publishes, grouped by who your partner is, with INZ's own fees and processing times.
Read the guide →What evidence do I need for a New Zealand partnership visa?
INZ's definition of partnership, the evidence it lists for living together and a genuine relationship, and what it assesses.
Read the guide →What is an interim visa in New Zealand?
When INZ gives an Interim Visa, how long it lasts, what it lets you do, and the deadline that decides whether you get one.
Read the guide →How do I check if a New Zealand employer is accredited?
Searching INZ's official list by name or NZBN, why an employer can be missing, and how accreditation and the job check fit into an AEWV.
Read the guide →What do I have to sort out once I arrive?
An IRD number, a bank account, a tenancy, a school zone, a GP, a driver licence, shipping, pets and utilities — from the official New Zealand government sources.
Read the settling-in guide →